Yoke for draft-gears.



C. A. CARSCADIN. YOKE FOR DRAFT GEARS. APPLICATION FILED DEC-29,1916.

1,283,663. Patented Nov. 5, 1918,

CHARLES A. GARSCADIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

YOKE FOR DRAFT-GEARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. CARsoA- DIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yokes for Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a yoke for draft gears and has for its primary object the provision of means for securing the butt of a standard draw-bar to the yoke so as to permit removal or insertion of the drawbar without disturbing the yoke.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means, whereby accidental displacement of the fastening key is entirely obviated.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a yoke, the rear end of whichis constructed to preserve the requisite strength while the weight and cost of manufacture are materially reduced.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when readin connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, of a yoke constructed in accordance with mv invention;

' Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the front end of the yoke, and

Fig. at is a vertical section through the front end of the yoke illustrating the manner of inserting the butt of the draw-bar.

Referring to the drawing, '1 and 2 indi cate, respectively, the top and bottom members of the yoke connected at their rear ends by webs 8 formed integrally with the top and bottom members. The plates 3 are sufficiently wide to insure the provision of sufficient strength to overcome the shearing stresses. It will be noted that the rear end of the yoke is open as distinguished from yokes heretofore in common use and that this construction materially lightens the yoke and reduces thecost of manufacture thereof.

The front ends of the members 1 and 2 are connected by webs 4: formed integrally therewith, the lower portions of which are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 191s.

Application filed December 29, 1916. Serial No. 139,688.

expanded laterally and provide forwardly and downwardly directed channels 5 and shoulders 6. The shoulders 6 are adapted to be engaged by the front edge of the key which passes through a slot 8 in the drawbar 1 so that pulling stresses 011 the drawbar 9 are transferred to the shoulders 6 through the key 7 and thence to the yoke.

The lower member 2 is provided at its front end with a downwardly directed lip 10 which serves as a guide for the butt of the draw-bar 9 while it is being inserted or removed from the yoke and the upper member 1 is preferably provided with a downwardly directed lip 11 which may be rounded as indicated in the drawings.

The mode of inserting the butt of the draw-bar in my improved yoke will be readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 4 of the drawing. 'The key 7 is first inserted in the. slot 8 with its ends projecting equally on either side of the'draw-bar 9 which is inserted in the yoke with its lower face resting on the lip 10 and is forced rearwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 4:. The ends of the key 7 pass rearwardly and .upwardly in the channels 5 until the front'edge of the key 7 is slightly behind the shoulders 6.

The draw-bar 9 may then be lifted and secured by the usual carrier iron (not shown). The ends of the key 7 are thus secured in position to engage the shoulders 6 andtransmit stresses to the yoke while at the same time lateral displacement of the key 7 is prevented by the side walls 12. The distance between the side walls 12 is preferably ,7

slightly greater at the extreme front end of the yoke than at the point where the key 7 is disposed in engagement withthe shoulders 6 to facilitate removalfof the draw-bar.

To remove the draw-bar from the yokeiit is only necessary to release the draw-bar from the carrier iron and drop the frontend of the draw-bar to move the front edge of the key 7 from engagement with the shoulders 6 and into the channels 7. The bottom face ofthe butt of the draw-bar then restsupon the lip 10 and the draw-bar may be drawn outwardly away from the yoke.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that no cotter pins for the key are necessary with my construction. the key being maintained'in operative position by the side plates 12. Consequently accidental loss of cotter pins with the accompanying probability of displacement of the ke is entirely obviated. Such accidental removal of the key is of frequent occurrence and has heretofore been a source of considerable annoyance and danger in the operation of railroad trains. I have not only overcome this inherent defect in yokes as heretofore constructed but have in addition provided a yoke which permits the drawbar to be easily inserted and withdrawn from the yoke for replacement or repair as circumstances reuire.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members integrally connected at their rear ends, webs connecting the sides of said members adjacent the front ends thereof, forming a substantially rectangular housing, and shoulders on the inner faces of said. web to receive pulling stresses and transfer them to said members, said webs being provided with channels on their inner faces leading from the front of said yoke to the space behind said shoulders, said channels being angularly disposed relative to a plane parallel to said top and bottom members.

2. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, webs connecting the sides of said members adjacent the front ends thereof forming a substantially rectangular housing, and shoulders on the inner faces of said webs to receive pulling stresses and transfer them to said members, said webs being provided with downwardly and outwardly sloping channels on their inner faces leading from the front of said yoke to the space behind said shoulders.

3. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, webs connecting the sides of said members adjacent the front ends thereof, a downwardly directed lip on said bottom member, and shoulders on the inner faces of said webs to receive pulling stresses and transfer them to said members, said webs being provided with downwardly directed channels parallel to and spaced from said. lip, leading from Copies of this patent may be the front of said yoke to the space behind sale. shoulders.

-l. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a draw-bar provided with a slot, a key loosely mounted in said slot and projecting from either end thereof with a yoke having top and bottom members connected at their rear ends, integral webs connecting their sides and adapted to prevent lateral displacement of said key, shoulders on said webs to receive pulling stresses from said key, a downwardly directed lip at the front end of said bottom member, and channels in said webs parallel to and spaced from said lip leading from the front of said yoke to the space behind said shoulders.

5. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a draw-bar, fastening means projecting from the sides thereof with a yoke having top and bottom members and integral side webs forming a substantially rectangular housing and provided with shoulders on their inner faces to receive pulling stresses from said fastening means, and downwardly and outwardly sloping channels in said webs leading from the front of the yoke to the space behind said shoulders.

6. A yoke for draft gears comprising top and bottom members, and integrally connected at their rear ends, webs integrally connecting said top and bottom members adjacent the front thereof, said webs being expanded laterally to provide channels lead ing inwardly and upwardly in angular relation to a plane parallel to said top and bottom members, from the lower forward edges of said webs and shoulders at the inner ends of said channels. t

7. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a drawbar provided with a slot, a key loosely mounted in said slot and projecting from either end thereof, with a yoke having integral webs at its sides to prevent lateral displacement of said key, shoulders on said webs to receive pulling stresses from said key, and downwardly and outwardly sloping channels in said webs leading from the front of said yoke to the space behind said shoulders whereby said drawbar may be inserted. endwise in said yoke and bodily swung to horizontal position to engage the ends of said key behind said shoulders.

CHARLES A. CARSCADTN.

lVitnesses Ennns'r H. MERCHANT, W. T. VVESTERBERG.

Washington, D. C. 

